Chapter 6
When Alonzo arrived at her house, Saturday morning, Kenya didn’t wait for him to kiss her. Today, she initiated it, pulling his head down and swirling her tongue around his, wanting him to know just how much he was coming to mean to her. “Hi.”
“Now I can get used to this kind of greeting,” Alonzo said with a smile. “Can you take this while I get the rest of the things from my car?”
She accepted the bag and waited at the door while he removed a small duffle bag and what looked like a table from the trunk. “What’s that?” she asked as he entered.
He winked. “Everything I need for your massage.”
“Oh. You can put it wherever—the family room or living room.” Kenya looked inside the bag he’d given her and found crabmeat and a few other items they needed for their lunch. She was looking forward to cooking with him. Her sister and brother-in-law often prepared meals together and Phaedra had mentioned spending that time together had made them closer. She took the bag to the kitchen and put the items that needed to stay cool in the refrigerator, then placed the rest of the foodstuff on the counter with hers.
“Ready to get started?”
“I guess. I had no idea how much stuff she had, but she lived here for more than thirty years, so it’s not unreasonable to think that she would’ve accumulated so much.”
“This is a really nice place,” Alonzo said as they headed down the hallway.
It dawned on her that he’d only seen the front portion of the house the last time he was there. “I have a lot of good memories here. There are three bedrooms.” She pointed out the spare one and the one she’d been using, along with the bathroom, before turning left and leading him to her grandparent’s room at the end of the other hallway. It had a sitting area and a huge bathroom with a round sunken tub. There was also a sliding glass door to access the backyard.
“I like this. I’ve never seen a house with this design.”
“Where do you live?”
“Manhattan Beach. We’ll take a drive over later if you want and I’ll give you a tour.”
Kenya rubbed her hands together. “Sounds good to me. I’d probably be at the beach every day if I lived that close to one. Is your house on the beach?”
“No. I’m about two miles away. I wanted to be close enough without having to deal with the crowds, the noise and people parking in front of my house. I like having my privacy.”
“Yeah, I can see that. I like my privacy, too. Something else we have in common.” They also had similar tastes in music and would rather spend an evening at home than at a club. She pointed to the boxes she and her mother had stacked neatly in one corner. “I’d like to move all of these boxes to the garage. Someone from GiGi’s church has already picked up some, but, as you can see, I’ve barely made a dent.”
“Do you plan to keep anything of hers?”
She nodded. “I’ve already selected my favorite pieces of jewelry. My sister is planning to come by sometime next week to do the same. Although, she was my father’s mother, my mom and her remained close after the divorce, so I’ll let her take something, as well. I may invite my aunt and her two daughters to do the same if there’s anything left. Neither she or my father bothered to visit GiGi very often during those last few months of her life.” Kenya thought her anger would have lessened by now, but the constant calls to her and Phaedra demanding an inheritance that they hadn’t received, nor deserved kept her irritation at a high level.
“I don’t know if I’d be that generous.”
“Believe me, it’s an ongoing internal battle.”
“Enough about them. I don’t want you stressing today. .Show me where you want the boxes.”
Alonzo placed a quick kiss on her lips and ran his hands up and down her back, caressing, soothing her. “Follow me. You can use the dolly.” She directed him to the space she’d cleared out in the garage and left him to his task, while she started boxing up some of the books she’d planned to donate. Kenya loved reading and she and her grandmother would often read the same books and have their own book club discussions. Those were some of her best memories. They read everything from romance and women’s fiction, to thrillers and biographies.
Kenya and Alonzo worked at a steady pace with music as a backdrop. She listened to him singing softly to an older Usher song and had to admit that he had a very nice voice. Yeah! was one of her favorite songs by the artist and she couldn’t help dancing every time it came on. Placing the book in the box, she stood, danced her way over to where Alonzo worked and grabbed his hand. “Dance with me.” Without hesitation, he jumped right in. “Okay. I see you’ve got some moves.”
“Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” He rocked his body against hers, spun her around and pulled her back in, not missing a beat.
For the first time in a long while, Kenya felt free. They laughed and danced through three more songs. “Whew.” She fanned herself. “I haven’t danced like that in forever. I forgot how much I love it.”
“Then we’ll have to make sure we dance often. Since we’ve decided to take a break, how about we get lunch going?”
“Works for me. I’ve danced off all my breakfast.” Kenya took a step, then let out a squeal when Alonzo swept her into his arms. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you. Does this make your back uncomfortable?”
“No.” And even if it did, she wouldn’t say so because she liked being in his arms. She looped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder as he strode purposely to the kitchen. Once there, he gently set her on her feet. They washed their hands and got started. While he made the mix for the crabcakes, she fried the bacon.
“Do you mind if we bake the crabcakes instead of frying? I’m not adding a lot of fillers and this particular recipe seems to taste better from the oven.”
“I don’t mind at all.” She snagged a stray piece of crabmeat that he’d missed. “Oh, my goodness. It’s so good. Where did you find this?” It tasted fresh, like he cooked it himself. “Please don’t tell me you spent all night cracking a crab.”
“I didn’t. There’s a great company that ships it fresh. All I have to do is open it and eat.”
“If I asked nicely, would you share the name of the company so I can order some? My mom and sister love seafood, too, and I’d like to get some for them.”
“I’ll get you some when I place my next order.”
“I appreciate it, but you don’t have to do that. I know this isn’t cheap.”
“Sweetheart, don’t you know I’ll get you whatever you want if it’s in my power? I like doing things for you.”
She liked it, too, but the practical side of her didn’t want to be indebted to him in case things went sideways. Instead of commenting, she came up on tiptoe and kissed him. After finishing cooking, the two sat at the kitchen table to eat the fabulous sandwiches that they’d paired with homemade chips and glasses of lemonade. Kenya would definitely be ordering the crab.
“I’m so full, I don’t know if I’ll be able to pack anything else,” she said with a groan.
Alonzo leaned over and kissed her temple. “I don’t think it’ll hurt if we chill a little longer.” The early April temperatures had risen to the low seventies and would be perfect for sitting under the swing her grandmother had erected several years ago under the covered patio.
“Oh, I wanted to ask what you’re doing on the twentieth. My sister and I are going to be vendors on a CannaBliss sunset cruise. It’s a celebration of cannabis culture in all its forms. There will be music, food, all kinds of cannabis products.”
Kenya angled her head. She’d heard of the celebrations, but had never even considered going to one. But he had her curious. “I’d love to go.”
“Good.” He rose from the table, collected all the dishes and carried them over to the sink. “It’s a nice day outside, and not too hot, and I see there’s a swing. We can relax out there for a few minutes before getting back to work.”
““Sounds good. I’ll help you—” She cut off the sentence when she heard the doorbell. “I wonder who that is. Probably one of my neighbors. Be right back.”
Kenya opened the door and saw her father standing there. “Dad, what are you doing here?”
“How dare you ignore my calls?” he yelled. “I can’t believe I’ve raised such an ungrateful child.”
“Actually, Dad, Mom raised Phaedra and me. You were too busy with all your other women to be bothered with us.” They’d almost lost their house because, unbeknownst to her mother, he had stopped paying the mortgage. To pour salt in the wound, also he’d taken one of his “women” down to get a loan and forged her mother’s signature. Fortunately, her mother was able to prove it wasn’t her when the unpaid bills started arriving.
“Don’t you talk to me like that. I’m still your father and this house should be mine.”
Kenya let out a startled scream when he grabbed her arm and raised his other hand to hit her. Out of her periphery, she saw a movement. In a flash, Alonzo was across the space and had her father pinned against the wall next to the door, with his legs dangling in the air, and Alonzo’s arm across the older man’s throat.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Alonzo roared. “Don’t you ever put your hands on her again!”
“Take…take your hands off me,” her father croaked, clawing at the forearm and struggling to breathe.
Alonzo ignored him and turned to Kenya. “You okay, baby?”
Trembling and rubbing her sore arm, she turned her teary gaze to him. “I…I don’t know.”
“Say the word and I’ll toss his ass out.”
“You can’t throw me out. I’m her father.” His words came out staccato, as he continued to struggle.
“A real father would never put his hands on his daughter. He would protect her, you sorry piece of shit!”
The front door flew open and Kenya gasped. “Mom? Phaedra? What are you doing here?”
Instead of answering, her mother whirled around and stared at her ex-husband. “Did I just hear you say you put your hands on my daughter, Gerald?” She dropped her purse on the floor and lunged at him.
“Mom, nooo,” Kenya yelled, as she and Phaedra rushed to stop her, but not before she drew back and punched her father in the face. Alonzo finally released him and he crumbled to the floor, coughing and wheezing.
It took every ounce of her strength to hold onto her mother, who continued cursing and calling him every kind of name, except a child of God. Kenya looked pleadingly at Alonzo.
Alonzo picked up her mother and carried her to the living room, with Kenya right on his heels. “Do you want me to call the police?” he asked.
Kenya paced and debated what to do. A part of her said she should, but the other part didn’t want to make things worse and have to deal with more drama once her aunt and cousins found out. And they would because Gerald Grant would run right over and play the victim. “No. Just get him out of my house.”
Without a word, he pivoted, stalked across the room and snatched her father up by the collar. “I’m going to say this once, and once only. Don’t ever bring your ass over here to harass her again,” he said with lethal calmness. “This is your only warning.” Alonzo dragged him to the still open door, tossed him out none too gently and slammed it shut.
He walked back to where Kenya stood, still in shock, and wrapped his arms around her. He didn’t say anything, just held her.
“Thank you,” she whispered. If he hadn’t been there, it frightened her to think what would have happened. She’d seen her father angry and recalled him throwing things once or twice during one of his rages, but he’d never gone so far as to threaten and hit her.
“I’m going to go sit in the backyard for a minute.” He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead and walked out.
Kenya dropped down on the sofa next to her mother, braced her hands on her thighs and massaged her temples. “I can’t believe this.” Her mother lovingly rubbed her back.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I would’ve never believed he’d go this far. If he had hurt you…” Her mother shook her head.
Phaedra, who hadn’t said one word, came and sat on the other side of Kenya. She placed her arm around her shoulders. “Dad called me yelling about the money and house, and said he was going to talk some sense into you. If that didn’t work, he was taking you to court. I figured he’d come after you next. I tried calling to warn you, but when you didn’t answer, I got worried, called Mom and we broke every speeding law to get here.”
“My phone is in the room and we were in the kitchen.” She’d completely forgotten about her phone while she and Alonzo were preparing lunch.
“So, that’s Alonzo, huh?” her mother said.
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“Looks like my baby has found her champion. And he’s real easy on the eyes.”
“Amen, Mama. Amen! Girl, I thought his voice was all that, but the man is the total package,” Phaedra said, fanning herself.
The three women looked at each other and burst out laughing. Kenya looked at the two women who’d had her back from birth. “I love y’all so much.” She hugged them both. She agreed with her mother. Alonzo was her champion. And more.
Alonzo sat on the swing, then jumped up again and began pacing. He’d lost every shred of his control when he rounded the corner from the kitchen to see a man about to hit Kenya. Then to find out it was her father—the man who was supposed to love and cherish her, be the example of what love looks like, and be the model of what she should look for in a potential mate—he’d wanted to seriously hurt him. In all honesty, he wouldn’t change one thing about his response and had a hard time not beating the man like he had apparently tried to do to his daughter. Even in his rage, he realized if he’d done what he wanted, it would affect their growing relationship, no matter how angry Kenya was at her father.
He lowered himself to the swing again and buried his head in his hands as he remembered that her mother and sister had shown up. He had to give it to Kenya’s mother. She packed a mean punch. But his mother would’ve done the same. Helluva way to meet the family. Alonzo glanced up when the sliding glass door opened and Kenya’s mother stepped out. He stood at her approach. “Mrs. Grant, I’m really sorry for?—.”
She lifted a hand to silence him, sat down on the swing and patted the space next to her. “Have a seat, Alonzo.”
He sat, feeling all of ten years old again.
“You don’t have to apologize for protecting my daughter. Never apologize for that,” she said fiercely. “My baby girl has had a bad time when it comes to men and relationships, but I’m really happy to see that change.”
“Although we’ve only known each other a short time, she’s become really special to me.” More than special, she’d become his heart.
She gave him a motherly smile and patted his thigh. “And I do believe you’re special to her, as well. This isn’t the way I’d hoped to be introduced to you, but I’ll take it.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” he mumbled.
Laughing, she stood and he followed suit. “Come on in and meet my other daughter, who’s anxious to interrogate you. Just a little warning, she’s far more outspoken than Kenya.”
“She sounds like my younger sister.”
“Then you’ll do just fine.”
Alonzo tried to figure out what just happened. The conversation seemed simple enough, but in some ways felt almost as if he’d passed some sort of test.
What he found out about Phaedra was that their mother hadn’t lied. From the moment they walked back inside, she’d asked about his job, where he lived, his family, if he had children, and a host of other things, until Mrs. Grant cut in and said they were leaving.
“I just have to check him out and make sure he’s going to take care of my sister,” Phaedra said.
Kenya put a hand on her hip. “He had Dad hemmed up on the wall after he tried to hit me. I think he did take care of me.”
“Yeah, you’re right. My bad.” She turned to their mother. “Okay, Mom. Let’s go.”
After they hugged Kenya and made promises to check on her tomorrow, the women started for the door. Her mother said, “It was nice to meet you, Alonzo, and thank you again.”
“It was nice to meet you, too. Both of you.” Alonzo hung back to give them privacy.
When they reached the door, Phaedra turned, rushed back over to Alonzo and hugged him. “You’re going to make a great brother-in-law,” she said softly, then winked and strutted back to the door.
He couldn’t do anything but laugh. The woman was outrageous.
Kenya said her goodbyes, closed the door and came back to where he was waiting. “Sorry about Phaedra. The girl has absolutely no filter.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
“I’m just sorry you had to deal with it at all.” Holding her in his arms, his heart rate finally went back to a normal pace.
“I hate that he messed up our day.”
“We aren’t going to let him have any more of our time. We’re going to pack up a few more boxes, then I’m going to give you that massage. Okay?”
She stared up at him. “Okay.”
Unable to resist, he bent and captured her mouth in a slow, drugging kiss, wanting to erase every second of the last fifteen minutes. He didn’t want her to feel fear, anger, or any other negative emotion. He only wanted her to feel passion. And his steadily growing love for her.
“Alonzo,” she murmured against his lips.
“I know, baby. Work first, pleasure later.” Alonzo drew in a deep breath, to bring his rampant desire under control. He wanted to make love to her here and now.
“I’m done working for today. I’d rather have dessert, then the massage.”
“Whatever you want to do, sweetheart.” Except the only dessert he wanted was her.
Kenya took his hand and led him to the kitchen. “Brownie sundaes with my homemade chocolate sauce.”
“Homemade?”
“Yep,” she said, grinning. “Wanna taste?”
“Yeah, I do.”
She poured some of the sauce in to a bowl and stuck it in the microwave for a few seconds, then she got a spoon, dipped some out and fed it to him.
Alonzo opened his mouth as she slowly slid in the spoon and drew it out again. The warm, decadent flavor exploded on his tongue. He groaned. “That’s good. I think I need another taste.” He dipped his finger in the bowl, smeared some across her lips and licked off every drop, then kissed her deeply. “Even better.” Reaching out, he whipped her shirt over her head, tossed it aside and did the same with her bra. He smeared the chocolate over her breasts and licked her clean.
“What are you doing to me?”
“Tasting you. I’m going to taste every part of your beautiful body.” In the blink of an eye, he had her naked and spread out on the kitchen table. He took his time, starting at her ankles, charting a path up her body with the chocolate and his tongue, lingering over some places longer than others. Her moans heightened his own arousal, but today would be just for her. He wanted her to know what it felt like to be desired, cherished. Using the spoon, he drizzled the chocolate over her center. He nudged her legs apart, hooked her legs over his shoulders and pressed a kiss to the hot, wet space between her legs and swiped his tongue across her core in one long stroke.
“Alonzo!” Kenya screamed out his name and her hips flew off the table.
She gripped his head and squirmed as his tongue delved in and out of her. Not taking his mouth off her, he lifted her from the table, carried her to the closest wall and continued his taste quest. Her scent and her taste consumed him, and he stroked her deeper as her cries became louder. Alonzo changed the tempo, the slow, hot licks pushing her higher and higher until she convulsed in a shuddering climax that made her scream out his name. “Now, you’re ready for your massage.” Their time together would come soon.